Why Contracts are Written in 'Legalese'

26 Pages Posted: 1 Feb 2003

See all articles by Claire A. Hill

Claire A. Hill

University of Minnesota Law School

Abstract

Business contracts have been reviled since before the Marx Brothers' infamous 'there ain't no Sanity Clause' sketch as being replete with duplicative, cumbersome, inartful, and sometimes imprecise language. My article seeks to understand why practice apparently hasn't made perfect - why business contracts are not as clear, and only as long, as would seem to be optimal. I argue that the contract production process combines rational, and what some would consider irrational, elements to create a serviceable, but arguably second-best, product. I discuss dynamics of law firms and their clients that contribute to the continuing viability of an 'imperfect product.'

JEL Classification: L2, K22, L14

Suggested Citation

Hill, Claire Ariane, Why Contracts are Written in 'Legalese'. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=332941 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.332941

Claire Ariane Hill (Contact Author)

University of Minnesota Law School ( email )

229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States
612-624-6521 (Phone)

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